Holiday apartment in Västernorrland: Nature and culture on the High Coast

Västernorrland showcases the High Coast in many different forms: high islands, steep shores, smoothly polished rocks and deep bays shape the landscape of the World Heritage Site. At the same time, the land along the High Coast has risen by around 290 metres over the past 10,500 years. Between the coast, river valleys, forests and distinctive rock formations are trails, nature reserves and cultural sites that reveal the region’s many different facets.

Nature and landscape

Halsviksravinen in Nordingrå is a particularly species-rich landscape area. The lush deciduous-forest ravine lies within the High Coast World Heritage Site; marked trails lead through the area, which also includes a sandy beach. More than 260 species of vascular plants have been recorded in Halsviksravinen. The flat, sea-smoothed rock slabs of Rotsidan, which stretch along a four-kilometre section of coast, have a different character.

Västernorrland has more than 230 nature reserves offering nature experiences of different kinds and difficulty levels. Vällingsjö urskog Nature Reserve has a seven-kilometre hiking loop with a rest area at Vällingsjötjärnen and several viewpoints. Smitingen-Härnöklubb Nature Reserve is characterised by five large sea-eroded tunnel caves. Some nature reserves in Västernorrland have been adapted for accessibility, are suitable for prams or are equipped with visitor facilities. Some can be visited year-round or are accessible by public transport.

Trails and protected areas

Skuleskogen National Park offers several dozen kilometres of hiking trails, as well as numerous rest areas, campsites and open huts for overnight stays. The Kuststigen runs along the coast between the southern and northern entrances to the national park; Tärnettholmarna can be reached on foot from both entrances. All three entrances to Skuleskogen National Park have certain accessibility-adapted facilities. These include wooden ramps, covered information terraces and nearby wheelchair-accessible compost toilets.

In the Smitingen area, the Klubbsjön runt loop is an easy-to-walk, 2.7-kilometre trail around Klubbsjön. An accessibility-adapted footpath leads to the rest area by the lake. At Skuleberget, four fixed via ferrata routes run along the 250-metre-high eastern face. You can hike to the summit; alternatively, you can use the Via Ferrata climbing route. At the foot of Skuleberget, naturum Höga Kusten has exhibitions about the World Heritage Site, Skuleskogen National Park and Skuleberget.

Further inland, trails and wildlife observation also go hand in hand. Jämtgaveln Nature Reserve has more than 20 kilometres of trails, several overnight huts, rest areas and more than 20 information points. Arctic char fishing is possible in Lake Torringen within the nature reserve. Fishing is popular on the Mjällån in Mjällådalen Nature Reserve; a fishing licence is required. Mjällådalen also has several kilometres of hiking trails, many rest areas and two wind shelters for overnight stays.

Coast and views

The coastal landscape can be experienced on trails of varying lengths. The 100-kilometre Världsarvsleden hiking trail passes through Rotsidan Nature Reserve. There, an accessibility-adapted path leads from the car park to the rocks; the gravel path and wooden ramps can be used with prams or wheelchairs.

A distinctive rock formation is Slåttdalsskrevan: the rock fissure is 200 metres long, 30 metres deep and seven metres wide, dividing Slåttdalsberget. From the summit of Slåttdalsberget, the view extends across Skuleskogen and the High Coast. Hemsö fästning, situated on the 140-metre-high Storråberget, offers another expansive view over the sea, islands and coast.

Culture and history

Nämforsen is one of the region’s major cultural sites. The rock-art site comprises 2,595 rock carvings dating to approximately 6,000 to 3,800 years before present, or approximately 4,000 to 1,800 BC. The rock carvings at Nämforsen can be seen on Laxön and on the northern shore. In summer, Nämforsens Hällristningsmuseum offers guided tours of the rock-art area.

River trails

The 27-kilometre Nipleden hiking trail runs from Sollefteå Camping on Risön in central Sollefteå upstream along the Ångermanälven to Edsbron and then downstream back to the starting point. It complements the coastal trails and shorter loops with a route that follows the river.

More destinations

More destinations in Västernorrland: Sandöverken, Sundsvall, Sollefteå, Örnsköldsvik, Härnösand, Kramfors, Ånge, Alnö, Timrå, Bonässund, Torsboda.